Module 2: Communication Technologies

SEARCHING MU'S LIBRARY
AND ONLINE DATABASES

• Searching Misericordia's Library
• Searching the Ebsco Host Online Databases
• Jump to another topic in module 2.

Searching Misericordia's Library

NOTE: Realize that Misericordia community members only are given entrance to paying databases (such as Ebsco Host). To search off-campus, you will be prompted to enter your e-MU user name and password.

Quick Search

1. Enter a word or phrase.

2. Check one of the following radio buttons above the search box:
   1. keyword: Treats the terms you entered as all separate terms (vs. treated as a phrase). Use this option (default) unless you know exactly what you are looking for.)
   2. exact: Finds an exact match. Anything more or anything less will be disregarded in the search hits. Additional words appearing in the field you searched will cause the record to be disregarded.
   3. browse: Returns categories to browse rather than exact hits.

3. To conduct the search, press one of the following buttons under the search box:
   • search everything (works for keyword only): Finds records containing the term(s) in any indexed field.
   • author: Finds records in which your search terms are a complete or partial author's name.
   • title: Finds records in which your search terms are a complete or partial title.
   • subject: Finds records in which your search terms are a complete or partial subject.
   • series: Finds records in which your search terms are a complete or partial series name.
   • periodical title: Finds records in which your search terms are a complete or partial periodical's title.

4. Select from any of the following options:
   • Perform a limit search (perform a further search of the results you already found).
   • Perform a print capture.
     1. view results on screen
     2. save to a floppy
     3. print
     4. e-mail

Complex Search

To conduct a complex search, enter search term(s) in one or more of the search boxes. Select the field that you want to search (e.g., author, title), and then select one of the following connecting words:

• AND: All AND fields must be true for the records to be returned as hits.
• OR: At least one of the OR fields must be true for the records to be returned as hits.
• NOT: A NOT field functions like the exclude tool (-).

Search Misericordia's online catalog for books or periodicals on the following topics: assistive technology Constructivism teaching methods computers as used in the classroom educational technology books authored by Robert Gagne

Searching the Ebsco Host Online Databases

1. Select a database to search: Academic Search Elite

   The world’s largest academic multi-disciplinary database, Academic Search Premier provides full text for nearly 4,650 serials, The Academic Search Elite database provides full text for nearly 4,650 academic, social sciences, humanities, general science, education and multi-cultural journals, including full text for more than 3,600 peer-reviewed titles. PDF backfiles to 1975 or further are available for well over one hundred journals, and searchable cited references are provided for more than 1,000 titles. This database is updated on a daily basis via EBSCOhost.

2. To perform a keyword search, select one of the following:
   • basic search: Perform a quick search. Select all words, any words, or exact search (same as placing search terms in quotes at a regular search engine).
   • advanced search: Provides more control over searching. Search for author, title, subject, journal name, and/or abstract. Uses AND, OR, and NOT Boolean operators.

3. When you find an item you desire:
   • Print, e-mail, or save the item to disk. OR
   • Add it to your folder. When you view your folder, you can print, e-mail, or save the item to disk.

4. Additional options:
   1. Instead of keyword searching, you may alternatively select one of the options (green buttons) across the top of the page:
      • subjects: Find articles and books organized by subject.
      • publications: Browse through available publications and read entire full-text journals online.
      • images: Search through the graphics repository.

   2. Select search history to view or revise the searches you have already performed.

Select several of the following topics. Search for articles/books dealing with these topics at Ebsco Host. assistive technology and its use in the classroom types of assistive technology available today using PowerPoint use of PDA's in the classroom Constructivism and computer technology copyright as it applies to online resources graphics to use in preparing a science lesson on trees flag of a particular country map of a city your students will be studying information literacy and how it can be addressed in the curriculum